Senator Robinhood Padilla vowed he will not allow anyone to sneak amendments to political provisions of the Constitution if the Charter change (Cha-cha) pushes through.
Should lawmakers take up amendments to economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution, Padilla gave assurance the political provisions would not be touched.
Padilla said he had separately filed proposed measures for economic and political amendments amid talks about the Cha-cha.
“I promise you, I will not allow anyone to sneak political agenda into efforts to lift the economic restrictions,” he said.
Padilla said he wished for more “meaningful discussions of the Cha-cha for the New Year even as he vowed to block attempts to introduce “self-serving” interests in amending the Charter.
Padilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself indicated the need to revisit the economic provisions of the Charter.
He said the direction the President wanted to take was to revisit the economic restrictions in the Constitution.
“I hope that when we lawmakers return to the plenary in 2024, we can face this issue,” Padilla said.
He also looked forward to more discussions on the legalization of medical cannabis and divorce, and a “civilized approach” to addressing the growing tension in the West Philippine Sea.
Padilla likewise reiterated his wish for Filipinos to be more discerning about the 2025 elections, and select candidates who are open to amending the Constitution. He said this is the only way to effect true change.
“Change will begin with the people, who must start by electing candidates who may not be famous but believe in Charter change,” he said.
Meanwhile, Padilla sought as well a civilized approach to the Philippines’ West Philippine Sea row with China – which he said is a major trading partner of the Philippines.
“We have to feed our people (but) if China will really invade us, dying for the country is the most beautiful thing in this entire life,” he said.
“So we need to be business-minded, but if China invaded us, we are willing to die for our country,” he stressed.
Padilla also expressed hopes that there would be meaningful discussions as well on his other advocacies, including the legalization of medical marijuana, and the legalization of divorce to protect the family.
He is hopeful as well for the swift passage of the Eddie Garcia Act in the Senate, which he said may need at least one more consultation in 2024 to take up the rights of the producers.